Bottle washer



Dec. 18, 1956 A. E. LADEWIG BOTTLE WASHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'iled March 7, 1955 L 'I ENTOR.

A rroR//E/S.

Dec. 18,l 1956 A. E. LADEWiG BOTTLE WASHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1955 INVENTOR.

Dec. 18, 1956 A. E. LADEWIG 2,774,361

BOTTLE WASHER Filed March 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IWI" IIIWI.

E L /147 El?. 5 145,

42, Pci/IP Moron T I I P 1p v INVENTOR. m?.

e l BY JDR/Ys Haro/ a g Z A 'r ToR/Yys.

DEG 18, 1956 A. E. LADEWIG 2,774,361

BOTTLE WASHER Filed March 7; 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7- To @M5/s.

United States Patent O BOTTLE WASHER Archie E. Ladewig, Waukesha, Wis., assignor to Archie Ladewig Co., Waukesha, Wis., a corporation of Wiscousin Application March 7, 1955, Serial No. 492,501

16 Claims. (Cl. 13d- 74) This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of placing receptacles in clean and sanitary condition preparatory to filling them with uent commodity, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of mechanism for automatically washing and rinsing bottles or the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and compactV automatic bottle washer of large capacity which is highly effective and reliable in operation.

Some of the more important specilic objects of the invention are as follows:

To provide a bottle Washing machine wherein the dirty bottles 'are' supplied en masse in upright condition at one end of the unit and are automatically unscrambled and subsequently subjected to thorough washing and rinsing within an enclosure from which the clean bottles are ultimately discharged at the same end of the unit to which the dirty bottles are introduced.

To provide improved mechanism for unscrambling upright bottles being supplied en masse to a bottle washer and which may be utilized to eiectively pre-arrange and to deliver to the internal bottle transporting conveyor of the machine, bottles having widely diierent diameters.

To provide a bottle washing unit in which Va singleV attendant can control the mechanisms for supplying and transporting the 'bottles through and for discharging the clean bottles from the machine, and for circulating and delivering the washing and `rinsing liquids against the bottles being thus transferred to, through and from the washer.

To provide a bottle lWasher of' the type wherein an advancingseries of bottles is subjected to successive prerinsing, soaking,` washing, and final rinsing operations oy liquids having progressively increasing and subsequently diminishing temperature, in order to eliminate bottle breakage.

To provide a bottle cleansing assemblage which utilizes caustic or other chemical as a cleansing agent and wherein undesirable waste of such valuable chemical is minimized.

To provide a bottle washing assembly involving the useof chemical solutions and. clean water for treating a succession of bottles in successive segregated zones, andvin which accumulation of the chemical within the bottom cavities of inverted bottles being Vtransferred from the chemical zone, is prevented frombeing deposited in the clean water washing zone.

.To provide animproved liquid type bottle cleanser inV which the cleansing liquid is utilized most economically, whiie the mechanism for advancing the bottles and for, circulating the liquid may be stopped at ,will and re-Y started with the cleansing liquid in proper, condition for most eiicient immediate use even after periods of considerable inactivity of the unit. Y 1

"l`o provide a bottle washer in which undesirablefoaming of the circulating cleansing liquid is constantly eliminated, and wherein-the soaking and washing liquids are maintained in relatively clear condition for prolonged periods. v

To provide an improved bottle washing machine wherein all parts are normally well concealed and protected, but are visible for inspection while the mechanism is operating, and are also readily accessible for removal of abnormal or accidentally jammed or broken bottles.

To provide a rapidly and eiectively functioning bottle washing unitvwhich requires minimum attention and is cooperable with various types of bottlesto thoroughly wash and sterilize the same at minimum cost. Y

To provide a totally automatic and exceedingly com pact lbottle washer` which may be Yinstalled and safelyoperated within limited space without subjecting the bottles to breakage dueto impact or sudden variations in temperature, and-which is adapted to handle bottles of diverse sizes and shapes.

These and other still more specific objects and advantages of the invention will he apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the various features constituting the present improvement and of the construction and operation of a typical bottle washer embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar` parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the bottle loading and unloading end of a commercialV bottle washing unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2.is a longitudinal vertical section through the main soaking basin and through the successive washing and rinsingzones of the unit located above the soaking basin, this sectional view being a continuation of the,

portion of the Amachine illustrated in Fig. 1 and being Vdrawn to the same scale;

the bottle washing unit, taken along the line 4-4 ofl Fig. v2;

Fig. 5 is an electrical diagram showing the electric circuits-fior controlling the functioning of the electrically actuated parts or' the washing unit; and

Fig. 6 is an Aenlargedfragmentary,and* part sectional top View of vthe unscrambling partitions and-accessories for enabling'these partitions to cooperate With ybottles of relatively small diameters.

While the'invention has been illustrated and described as being embodied in an electrically driven bottle'washer having successive transverse rows of bottle carrier pockets intermittently advanceable by an endless conveyor chain, and especially adapted to cooperate with small neckedV beverage bottles, it is not desired or intended to unnecessarily limi-t the scope or utility of the various improvements to such a structure; and it is also contemplated.thatY specific descriptive terms employedV herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistentwith the disclosure. Y Y

Refenring to the drawing, the automatic vbottle wash-A ing unit illustrated therein comprises in general, an elongatedcasing 8 having lower and uppergbottle loadingk and discharge zones 9, 10 respectively at `:one end, being provided Vinternally with a lower soaking basin- 111` and vwith a succession of washing and cleansing zones,V

" 12, 13, 14, 15 `disposed above and-separated fromv the basin 11 byla transversepartition 16; an endless chain'.

conveyor 17 havinga series of transverse rows of Vbottles carrying pockets 18 mounted thereon for advancing vbottles 19 in ksuccessi on-while in upright? positionthrough the washing and cleansing liquid delivery devices confined within the zones 12, 13, 14, in a manner to be explained later.

Located within the chemical solution basin 11 which extends throughout the major lower portion of the casing 8, is a steam coil 106 for heating the caustic bottle soaking solution, and disposed within the washing and cleansing zones 12, 13, 14, 15 are successive transverse rows of spray nozzles 107, 108, 109, 110 and spray pipes 111, 112 spaced from these nozzles suiciently to permit the bottles 19 to be advanced between the pipes and the nozzles, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The transverse spray pipes are stationary, but all of the nozzles are mounted upon a vertically movable horizontally elongated support 113 which is suspended from the horizontal arms of bell cranks 114 by upright links 115, and these bell cranks 114 are swingable upon pivot shafts 116 and have vtheir upst'anding arms interconnected 'by a rod 117 embraced by a coil spring 118 one end of which coacts with a fixed abutment 119 while its opposite end engages nuts 120 adjustable along the rod 117 to vary the spring tension. This .spring 11S counter-balances the weight of the support 113 and of the spray nozzles carried thereby, and the support 113 is movable by a lever 121 secured to the front pivot shaft 116 and which is connected to an arm 122 mounted on the main pivot shaft 95 by a connection 123, see Figs. l and 2.

The means for supplying, heating and circulating washing and cleansing liquid through the various bottle cleaning and rinsing zones of the bottle washer are illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, and consist primarily of the electric motor driven centrifugal pump 33 which receives its supply of chemical solution from the chamber 36 beyond the filter units 39 confined within the housing 31, and conduits and heaters through which the liquids are propelled by the pump 38. Fresh water is supplied to the bottle washing unit at city water pressure by a pipe 125 and a portion of this fresh water is delivered against the bottles 19 just prior to their exit from the machine through the nozzles 110 and the spray pipe 112 located in the final zone 15 in order to thoroughly linse thesebottles. The admission of fresh water to the cleansing spray nozzles 109 located in the zone 14 is controlled by a solenoid actuated valve 126 located in a pipe 127 which conducts the fresh water passing the valve` 126l into one end of an elongated tube heater 127 located at one side of the casing 8 well abovethe level of thes'olution in the basin 11.` In this heater 127 the fresh liquid ows through the tubes 128 while heated chemical solution from the basin 11 is circulated around the exteriors of these tubes 128 by the pump 38, andthe pre-heatedv clean wateris delivered from'theI oppositeY end of the main heater 127' through a pipe 129'and a heating'coil i 130 disposed beneath the initial washing zone 12, and is ultimately sprayed against the bottles 19 in the tinal cleansing zone 14 under city water pressure ythrough the nozzles 109. 1n order to effect such spraying only when the nozzles 109, 110 have been elevated into active position, awhistle or signaljvalve 131 which is operable by a connection 132 secured to the rear 'bell crank 114 may be provided, as yillustrated in Fig. 2, thisvalve being located in the fresh water supply pipe 125.

A portion of the hot chemical Vsolution delivered through the discharge line 134 of the main pump 38 is forced through a strainer 135 and through one pipe 136 directly tothe initial chemical solution spray'nozzles 107l and pipes 111 located in thev first washing zone, 12, and

thus subjectsA the success-ive -bottles- 19 to hot chemical scsite endV of this heater through piping 138l to the secondaryvspray nozles 16S and pipe 111, thus extracting some heat from the chemical solution passing through the heater and subjecting the' successive bottles 19 to somewhat lower temperature in the zone 13 than that existing Vin the initial washing zone 12. Most of the spent chemical solution from the two washing zones 12, 13 drains down the inclined partition 16 and throughk the opening 28 and housing 25V into the basin 11, but the auxiliary heating coil 130 is disposed in the bottom of the initial washing zone 12 so that hot chemical solution dropping thereon will immediately heat the fresh liquid flowing through this coil whenever the unitis started. Y

:The nozzles 107, 108, 109, 110 which are mounted upon the movable support 113 are all connected to'their respective liquid supply pipesby flexible tubes as shown,v and thefwashing and cleansing liquid to which the succiessive bottles 19 are subjected in the several zones 12, 13,

drained away to the sewer.

14, 15 is of gradually diminishing temperature advancing toward'the front ofthe washer so that breakage of bottles dueto suddenl changes in temperature within the casing 8 is positively avoided. In order [to initially heat the bottles 19 before they are admitted -to the'basin 11, the liquid which isv delivered against these bottles` in the pre-rinse zoneY 79 is preferably derived `from thefheat exchanger` guideway and which is located directly above the intermediate wall 24,. and this hump 140 serves to tilt the inverted bottles rearwardly Vas illustrated :in Fig. 2 thereby returning'accumulated chemical solution to the zone 13.

, The improved bottle washer may be automatically operated with the aid of an electrical system such as shown in Fig. 5, with the aid of -a single control switch 142 preferably disposed near, the front end of the unit, and cooperates with the motors 76, 145 and with the solenoid valve 126 through relays 143,` 144 and electric wiring 146 connected to a main line 147.

' 47'dis'posed above the-jrear portion` of this conveyor 43.

When the various parts of the improved unit have been constructed and assembled as hereinabove described, and the Various linkages have been adjusted to produce properv functioningof the mechanism,jthe.machine maybe iuitially set in motion by manipulating'the main controlV switch` 142 thereby, actuating the solenoid valve y126,thev

main driving-'motor 76 and the main pump propelling motor 145 yfor the liquid circulating pump 138. Ifl the mechanism is all functioning properly, the motori which drives the auxiliary bottle feeding conveyor 43 and which mayalso -be utilized-to drive the auxiliary. bottle discharge conveyor 98, maybe startedV whereupon the mechanical portion of -the unit is ready for normal opera-1` tion.` The basin 11 should then be filled with chemical solution which should be heated to approximately 140 F. by admission of steam to the heating coil 106, and fresh water under pressure and at city water rtemperature should be admitted ythrough the -supply pipe 125; and whilethe v V cover `40 which is applied to the I'ilte-r housing 31 need not be sealingly attached and may even be omitted, the other cover 40 which coactsV with the defoaming housing 25 on the opposite side of the casing 8 must be sealingly applied and held in place when the washer-is operating.

With'thernechanism and the liquid supply and circu laiting'devicesthusiplaced in Operating condition, the Ydirty Vbottles 19 may bef deposited en .masse and in 'uprightcon-v dition upon the front portion of the upper deck ofthe feed conveyorY 43 which promptly advancesfthese bottles toward'itheV laterally oscillating unscrambling jpartitins These ,partitions-47 gradually separate the mass. and arrangethe dirtybottles,l in parallel rows extending longitudinally of thejwasher, yand the constantly oscillating v Y tilting elements 62 receive the rear endbottles'of these l rows and .a'dkvancerthein alongtheguideshetvveenzthev Y xed partitions v52 Whilesimultaneously` tilting the bottles 19 from upright into horizontal position' xand` delivering them upon the shelf 66. This shelf :66 is Vperiodically SWllng front-horizontal to Yinclined positionso rasato exposethe bottles resting thereon tothe sprayjets .Within'the Y pre-rinse zone '79,and whichreceives.prefheatediresh water `frorn'the. heat exchanger-ll'fthrough .therpipe 141,V thus givingall .of the entering `dirty bottles an initial Vrinse.V Y When the shelf 66 is ,again returnedtohorizontalpositionthe pre-lrinsed bottles V19 l:resting thereon are'disposed rearwardly fof the Vpusher 'bar .870 which is subsequently moved'rearwardlyiopushzthe rovvof bottles horizontally into an adjacentrow'-of horizontally/disposed@pocketslls 4Vofthe main conveyor 17, seeFigeiL '1i -Y Y f Y While :the :dirty :bottles :'19 ia-regthusbeingirfed and subl Vf eraser n The improved lhottie ivashingunit thus ,operable toa aatomaticallyandeiielctivelyv pre-arrange .the dirty? bottles Y 15V` insuccessive Vrows atone end of the :casing '28,'.lto K thoroughly soak and YVcleansefthe bottleswhile proceeding g f 'fr catedV above the partition ,16 beneath the .initializione Y Y'vanced VstepjbyV step1tofcausettl1e .blottlenladen ,pockets '18 through'the basin ,11 and vthe'zones V12', .13, "14,V 15, .and i to deliver; them in clean V:condition from thesam'e'endi. in.; sg of the casing .8 lat. which they. .arezunsc'ran1hled andad# jectedk to pre-rinsing, theY main conveyor T17 isbeing .ad-

VVto carry the admitted `:bottles .19 downwardlyflintoand. v

'n throughithe elongated soakingbasin lLin upright'fposition, as shov/.nliniFi-gLZ. Aterzprolon'ged-soaking of the f Y hottlesr19 bothginternallylandexternallywithin .the basin Y ,Y Y' 171, itheya're transported upwardly inhorizontal .position Y along the rear endwall of the.` casing .V8 and:arefinv'erted'fv and moved forwardly by'theconveyor 17 in vadvanceiof Y the initial Washing zone, A12. 'lhelows of inverted bottles:VV n Y 19.l are ,thereafteritra'nsported stepibyistep Vthrough the:Y

'Y successive washing and rinsing zones 12, 13, 14, 15, and' Whenever` they aref moving :forwardly the "fresh waterrcon-I troll-valve 131 will Vshut'o the fresh water supply; but whenever the bottle advancement ceases, the nozzleV sup- Y -port1-13-will be elevated to bring vthe nozzlesr107, '108, Y

109,110 into direct'coaction Vwith the borttleneckropenf Vings and the valve 131 Willrfunction tn control Vtheow of fresh water from .the heat exchanger 130through Y,the nozzles 109 and ,rear spray pipes 112, past the solenoid YVactuatedrvalve 126, Lchemical `solution-*Will also be circulated Y by Vthe Yp'umpthrough thenogzzles 107, 108 and spray pipes 1171, Ythus insuring thorough washing and `rinsing of all of the bottles passing through the successive cleansr'V f inglzones'12, 13,114,715.

.7' AThe chemicalk solution .tvhichldrops fromthe-ilrivererlY hottlesj19fin therwashing zones 1'2Qi13collects upon the 2O `niitted tofthe WasheltJVThe successive Vlnrt'tl`esf-19fareVv gently advanced andare subjectedY to gradual temperature changesV throughout Ytlieir VentireV treatment so' jthatnbcittle` breakage is reducedto aminiinum, andthe improved ,unf-V bottle feeding conveyorv 43 andthe bottle unscrambler.`

,may be operated by YaQs'ep'arate electric motor 44,.the main n v Vconveyor 17 Yand the Ymain liquid circulatingpump 38 are driven byielectric motors 76, 145 the. operation of 30 which iscontrolled by. acommon switch .142` thus enabling a-single attendantrto conveniently actuate'the main wash-4 ingunihl Y, i g

Theimproved systemY for controlling and circulatingV the cleansing liquids ybesides eliminating waste Vof chemi-` 35 cal Vsolution by yproviding thehump 125% Vfor the bottle conveyor17, also enables thecirculating pump 38 :fo/r.VV

Ythe het chemical lsolution to" operate niost effectively'by eliminating foaming inthe Vhousingpand the provision of the lter units391and strainer 135 Vinsures removalrof Y *40 foreign ,matter from theicleansing solution and maintains f 'this liquid in .clean conditionat. all times. The valv'e131r; i coacts Withthe solenoid valve 126 to eliminate thewaste* f ofliquidfwhen the bottles 19are being advancedrandthe scramblingV device is'adaptedfto cooperate effectively with" 25,7bctties .19 of diverse shapes and; diameters. While the 4 ing- 25 through the .opening 2B, Vandjafterfpassingthrough;

-inclined ltransversepartition 16 :rearwardly-:of :theqvall Y Spra's ,r'rlatil jagd all parts gf 'the fashear'lfeug Y 24 and'drains "intojtheupper spacer-27 Within'V the hous- 'Prqtcted' Fmg gpfmal. 'Pperanon .Whlle 'Sun fbermgjj Y g 'readily accessible forinspectxon and removal ofahnormalV i p l bottles-withminimurn loss foftimer' The improved bottle- *and 50 ftheV filter units T39y thisf chemical 'solution-lisfeturnedtot f th'eiibasin 11 throughthe chamber 29 yand'theope'nin'g30s OtherV Ahet chemical solution 'is constantly Y`vvitlid-rawnf rom-theV basin 11 Vthrough l'the lovver chamba-36 -offthe otherhousingal past the tiltei-.nnits 39- and-througiijthe espace -33.and"operiin`g '35,V and is idelivered bythe r jcirculating pump 38,. through tl'le'fst'rainer'V135V :from'the' discharge end of which a portion of the chemical s'o'l'u-V L tion is re-circulated directly through Lth'e initial Washing'V Vzone 12 while another portion is circulated through Vth Y Aheater 127 and-from-,then'ce through `thesecondWashingV zone 13, The Yfresh water admittedrto ,thefthirdrcleansing i* zone 14'is rstcaused to flow through-,theheater 1727b fore beingfdelivered against the VVbottles i19, 'thereby/eab,-VV

bottlesinithesiiccessive zones'12`,.13,f4, l15 'andassuining'r Y the. temperature offthe fresh V'water'zidrnitted'-to the was approximately/59 win Vbe;approxiniste135' of 59jconsidering itscompactness.Y f *Y Y- Y t It should be understood that itfisl'notdesiredto limit rfatedcand described for Vvarious 'modifications Within Y skilled inthelartl f l claim: Y, Y Y' 3 Y `1. In a bottle Lasher, ay casing having therein Ineansfor` `diviclingthecasing intola lower chemical rsolution .bottle i soaking Vbasinand a fsuc'cess'ionfofgupper Vchemical, sohnv Y Y Y tionY and fresh water bottle VVvvasphingfizonessegregated f 5 from said basin', ja -conve'yorior transporting' bottles 1, 1 Ysuccessively infuprightrrposition'Whileliminersed `vvithin e l said upper zonesgmeansforheating the *chemicalsolutionY 2. .Ina bottle washer, 'a casing having'thereinatlow,

Y i hotchernicall.solutionbottle soaking.basinend asuef` 5 cessionfof upper; chemical solution and fresh Waterbottle Y this'inventionf'tojthe exact'details of Vconstruction and operation vof the bottle washer herein specifically illus- Y Y 5. the scope of theappended claims may occur .to 4persons l 65 fverted'position-whilesubjectedtotwashing'spaysthifough. :n

, .ein saidtb'arsirhk means Vto Ycirculating-g.a portionbf theV l1ot fY washingmachine has proven highlvsatisfactoryandvsucfff Y 'f i cessful incommercial iiusegifand has fenormouscapacity Y 9 spraying zones, a main conveyor for transporting successive transverse rows of bottles in upright position through said basin and in inverted position successively through said chemical solution and fresh water spraying zones, a heat transfer device located above the liquid level in said basin, a pump for circulating a portion of the hot chemical solution from said basin directly through said device and another portion through said chemical solution spraying zone, and means for admitting fresh water to said fresh water bottle spraying zone through said device to pre-heat said water.

3. ln a bottle washer, a casing having a hot ychemical solution bottle soaking basin extending throughout its major lower portion and being provided above said basin with a series of bottle spray washing zones, the rst two washing zones of said series having chemical solution bottle sprays therein and a subsequent washing zone of the series having fresh liquid sprays therein, a heat transfer device located above the levely of the liquid in said basin, means for delivering some hot chemical solution from said basin directly to therst ofhsaid chemical solution bottle sprays and for simultaneously delivering other of said hot chemical solution through said device to the second chemical solution bottle sprays of said series, and means for conducting the fresh liquid to said fresh liquid bottle sprays 'through said device to pre-V heat said fresh liquid.

4. ln a bottle washer, a casing having a hot chemical solution bottle soaking basin extending throughout its major lower portion and being provided above said basin with a series of bottlespray washing zones segregated from the basin, the first two washing zones of said series having chemical solution bottle sprays `therein and a subsequent washing zone of the series having fresh liquid sprays therein, a main'heat transfer device located above the level of theV liquid in said basin, means for circulating some hot chemical solution from said basin directly to the rst of said chemical solution bottle sprays and for simultaneously delivering other of said hot chemical solution through said main device to the second chemical solution bottle sprays of said series, means for conducting the fresh liquid to said fresh liquid bottle sprays through said main device to preheat said fresh liquid, and an auxiliary heat transfer device below said rst chemical solution washing zone for preheating the fresh liquid by heat derived from the spent hot chemical solution in said first zone,

arrasa:

chemicalpsolution bottle soaking basin and an upper chemical solution bottle spray washing zone segregated from said basin, a conveyor for transporting successive bottles through said basin and said Zone in succession, a strainer, a pump for delivering hot chemical solution from said basin through said strainer to said washing zone, and means including a lter for clarifying and returning the spent chemical solution from said zone to said basin.

8. In a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower bottle soaking basin segregated from a series of upper bottle, washing zones by a laterally inclined approximately horizontal partition, a conveyor for transporting successive bottles through said basin and said zones in succession, aV pump for delivering hot chemical solutionfrom said basin to an initial zone of said series, a liquid defoaming device, means for returning spent chemical solution from said initial zone to said basin through said device, and -means for conducting spent washing.

liquid from the lower portion of said partition into said basin through said'defoamin'g device. l

9. ln a bottle washer, a casing having therein-a lower bottle soaking basin and a series of upper bottle washing zones segregated from the basin by a transverse partition, a conveyor for transporting successive bottles through said basin in upright. position and through said zones in succession in inverted position, a filter on each side ofsaid casing, a heat exchanger above said basin, a pump for delivering liquid from said basin directly to an initial zone of said series and through said heater `to a subsequent zone, and means for returning spent 5. ln a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower hot chemical solution bottle soaking basin and a series of bottle washing zones above said basin, means for conveying bottles in succession through said soaking basin and said washing zones, a main heat transfer de-v vice located above the liquid level in said basin, means for circulating hot chemical bottle washing solution from said basin through said device to an initial washing zone of said series, an auxiliary heat transfer device beneath said initial washing zone supplied with heat from spent liquid delivered from said zone, and means for supplying fresh bottle washing liquid to a subsequent washing zone of said series through said auxiliary heat transfer device to pre-heat said fresh liquid whenever the machine is started.

6. In a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower chemical solution bottle soaking basin and an upper chemical soluu'on bottle spray washing zone segregated from said basin, a conveyor for transporting successive bottles through said basinand said zone in succession, means for delivering hot chemical solution from said basin to said'zone, and means including a laterally inclined partition spanning said basin and a solution clarifying device located externally of said casing near the lower end of said partition for returning the spent chemical solution hom said zone to said basin.

7. ln a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower washing liquid from said zones through said filters to said basin and said pump.

-10L In a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower bottle soaking basin and several upper bottle spray washing zones, a conveyor for transporting bottles successively through said basin and said zones, means for heating the liquid in said basin, a heat transfer device located above lthe level of the liquid in said basin, means for circulating hot liquid from said basin through said device to one of said zones, and means for conducting fresh liquid through said device to another of said zones, the hot liquid in said device being returnable by gravity to said basin when the machine is stopped.

11. In a bottle washer, a casing having a hot chemical solution bottle soaking basin in its lower portion and being provided above said basin with a series of bottle spray washing zones, therst two washing zones of said series having chemical solution bottle sprays therein and a subsequent washing zone of the series having fresh liquid sprays therein, a -heat transfer device located between said zones and said basin, means for delivering some hot chemical solution from said basin directly to the first of said chemical solution bottle sprays and for also delivering other of said hot chemical solution through said device to the second chemical solution bottle sprays of said series, and means for conducting the fresh liquid to said fresh liquid bottle sprays through said device to pre-heat said fresh liquid.

l2. In a bottle washer, a casing having therein a lower hot chemical solution bottle soaking basin and a series of bottle washing zones above said basin, means for conveying bottles in succession through said soaking basin and said Washing Zones, a main heat transfer'de-VV vice located between said zones and said basin, means for circulating hot chemical bottle washing solution from said basinv through said device to an initial washing zone of said series, an auxiliary heat transfer device beitween said initial washing zone and said basin and being supplied with heat .from spent liquid deliveredfrom said zone, and means forY supplying fresh bottle washing liquid to a subsequent washing zone of said series through said auxiliary heat transfer device to pre-heat said fresh liquid whenever the machine is started.

13. In a bottle washer, a casing therein a lower bottle soakingbasin and a series of upper Vvbottle Washing .Zones segregated from the -basinV by a transverse ',partition, ya

conveyor-fortransporting successive bottles vthrough said Y vbasinn upright positionrandthrough said zones in succession in'inverted position, a ylte'r on each side of said.A Casing, a heatV exchanger between said zones and `said basin, Va pump .for delivering liquid `from said basin to an initial zone of said series and through said heater to a vsubsequent zone, andrmfeans Afor returning'spent washing -liqurid'lfrom said zones through saidv filters toV said pump.V v Y Y 14. In-a'bottle washer, a casing having therein abottle soakingbasinland vseveral successive spray Washingzones,

a Vcontrol valve in said cool liquidk supply means operable to interrupt lthe cool `liquid supply Whenever the bottles are advancing from zone to zone.

15. ln a bottle` washer, a casing having therein a hot .liquid lbottle .soaking basin. and several ysets'ofgligllitl delivery nozzles Vsegregated-,friuli said basin, a conveyor for advancing lsuecessivefbottles through said basin and past said nozzlersets in succession, a heatexchanger Y terruptedlfor also` stopping said pump andthe ow of hoty liquid through Ysaidfheat exchanger, and means for con- 'toheatsaid gcool water .vas it'passes -to a 'subsequentlset of .said nozzles,: a valve inV said cool `water supply-means operable automatically .to interrupt the cool..waterr`f supi-Y ply .whenever .the Washer stops, means operable when the vvasher is stoppedand the kow of cool waterris inductinghot vliquid from said lheat exchangerinto said basin to prevent-buildup `of temperature ofthe cool f' water during periods of .inactivity of thewasher.

v16. In a bottle .vvashen'acasingY having thereink a bottle soakingl basin andV several. successive bottle Yspraying Y z ones, means for advancingsuccessive-bottles vthrough .locatedadjacent to'said basin, a pump fordelivering a portion of said hot liquid lfrom ysaid basin'directly fto anv initial set of said nozzles and another portion A,to ,a subsequent nozzle set through Ysaid heat exchanger, means for supplying cool water through said lheat exchanger said basin *and said rsprayin'ggzonesin succession, Ameans c.V for supplying shot/liquid. :from said basin to' an .initial Y i sprayingnzone, a heat VVexchangerzdisposedbeneathgsaidpv l initial .spraying zone .and .abovesaid.basin, meansV for supplying .co'olvliquid through. said .heat exchanger :to .a subsequent spraying zone .to heat saidY .cool liquid, an

electrically actuated.;eontrolfnvalve forinterrupting the cool .liquid supply `vvheneverthe washer stops, and means cooperable withlsaidNalve .to `stop the vdeliveryof hot liquidto saidinitial .spraying zoneWheneVer Vthe washer is stopped therebywpreventing .a build yup of Vtemperature of the liquid .within saidlheat exchanger during periodsV of inactivit'yvof 4the washer.

I ReferencesCitedin tleof'thispatent; U-NiTED vsm'rns PATENTS 791,243 Carlson ;a Q May/,30, 1905 '1,585,392 Y Lathrop MayV is, 1926. .2,024,373 "Ladevvig g- Dec. 17, 1935V .2,051,090 Ladewig Allg. "x18, 1936 Y .2,273,126 McGilling Y Feb. 17, A19.42 Y

'Ladevvigr' l r .May V1, v19,51 

